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Electrically controllable valve

Electrically controllable valve description/claims

The present invention relates to an electrically controllable valve, in particular for use in a shock absorber, including an actuator and a first valve member operable by the actuator and cooperating with a valve seat (control edge) in the valve housing in order to variably adjust a first valve opening cross-section.

DE 44 27 905 A1 discloses an electrically controllable valve, including an actuator, a first valve member operable by the actuator and cooperating with a valve seat (control edge) in the valve housing in order to be able to variably adjust a first valve opening cross-section.

An object of the invention is to configure a valve of the indicated type with least possible effort in such a fashion that a pressure controlling and pressure limiting function is achieved by using simple, functionally reliable means.

According to the invention, this object is achieved for a solenoid valve of the type at issue by an electrically operable valve, including an actuator, a first valve member operable by the actuator and cooperating with a valve seat (control edge) in the valve housing in order to variably adjust a first valve opening cross-section. A second valve member (6) operable by the first valve member (2) is arranged in the valve housing (4) in order to variably adjust a second valve opening cross-section (A2) that is arranged in series to the first valve opening cross-section (A1), and a third valve opening cross-section (A3) that is releasable by means of the first valve member (2) is positioned in series arrangement to the first valve opening cross-section (A1) for limiting the hydraulic pressure to a mechanically preset value.

Further features, advantages, and possible applications of the invention can be seen in the subsequent description of an embodiment for a valve in different operating positions.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section taken through a valve with the features on which the invention is based in a first pressure control position, in which the exciting current corresponds to the maximum electric actuating current of the valve coil, with the result that the desired fluid flow penetrates the valve under high fluid pressure;

FIG. 2 shows the valve according to FIG. 1 in a second pressure control position, in which the exciting current corresponds to the minimum electric actuating current, with the result that the fluid flow penetrates the valve under low fluid pressure;

FIG. 3 shows the valve according to FIG. 1 in a first fail-safe position, in which the valve is not actuated or not actuatable electrically (exciting current I=0), and a (second) valve opening cross-section having an aperture is released for pressure control;

FIG. 4 shows the valve according to FIG. 1 in a second fail-safe position, in which the valve is not actuated or not actuatable electrically (exciting current I=0), and first, second, and third valve opening cross-sections are released until pressure limitation to a desired, invariably adjusted pressure level.

Initially, the principal design of the valve shall be described exemplarily for all illustrations by way of FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an electrically operable valve, which is preferably used for controlling a shock absorber in a motor vehicle. The valve comprises an electric actuator 1, a first valve member 2 that is directly operable by the actuator 1 and cooperates with a control edge 3 in the valve housing 4. The cooperation of the first valve member 2 with the control edge 3 using the actuator 1 achieves a variably adjustable first valve opening cross-section A1, through which a controlled fluid flow (so-called primary flow) propagates in the direction of the valve outlet channel 16 that is disposed in the area of the valve member 2.

Besides, a second valve opening cross-section A2 is arranged in front of the first valve opening cross-section A1 between the conically expanded inside portion of the valve housing 4 and an annular-disc-shaped second valve member 6, which is to be actuated by the actuator 1 by way of a tappet-shaped extension 7 that is fitted at the first valve member 2 and the outside diameter of which corresponds to the outside diameter of the first valve member 2. The variable second valve opening cross-section A2 is thus positioned upstream of the first valve opening cross-section A1 in series connection with the first valve opening cross-section A1, and both valve opening cross-sections A1, A2 can be opened and closed reciprocally proportional to each other by means of the first valve member 2.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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